GAYLORD ― When Gaylord senior Addison McDonald recorded her 500th career kill in a match on Tuesday, Sept. 23, she talked after the match about what Gaylord volleyball meant to her, as a four-year varsity player who has seen the program through its ups and downs since 2022.
“It’s just like a second family to me,” McDonald said after that moment Tuesday. “I feel like I can come to practice and I have friends and coaches to lean on and help me with whatever I have going on, on or off the court.”
That ‘second family’ has gone through a tumultuous period in the six days since, with head coach Lisa Walega stepping down late last week and junior varsity head coach Kennedy Hignite taking over in the interim. After Monday’s matchup with Inland Lakes was canceled, six full days had passed before GHS could get back on the court and play volleyball again, welcoming their rivals from Petoskey to town on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
What a difference six days can make.
It may have been Petoskey coming out on the winning end of the scoreboard, 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-17, 25-20), but the difference in this Blue Devils team and last week’s could be seen clearly on the smiles on their faces as GHS brought a new level of energy to Jim Mongeau Gymnasium that just hadn’t been seen much during a rough 2025 season; an energy that was palpable from start to finish.
When Petoskey won the first set 25-17, it would’ve been easy for the Blue Devils to pack it in and mentally check out. That wasn’t about to happen.
Set two was perhaps the best volleyball Gaylord has played all season; balls that were falling between players last week were being passed flawlessly, outside hitters were consistently getting clean looks and, whether the play went their way or didn’t, they kept a positive energy throughout the entire set. Seniors Addison McDonald and Karlee Pretzlaff connected again and again for kill after kill and, eventually, Gaylord walked off the court with a 25-21 victory and hugs for all to go around.
The air in the Jim Mongeau Gymnasium felt different. Each point felt more impactful than the last. Gaylord had so much energy to go around that they couldn’t contain it at times, twice having a teammate knock another down in pure elation after scoring another point.
Maybe winning one set is a small moral victory, but it was a big moment for a Gaylord team that, up until last night, hadn’t won a set against another BNC opponent. Competing with a team like Petoskey, especially after the disorderly week they’ve been through, is a sign of the potential this team still has. As they turn the page on this latest chapter of the program, it is also a sign of a team that has found its spark again, and not a moment too soon.
Athletic Director Dale Cowper spoke highly of coach Hignite, a former volleyball player at Western Michigan University, as she leads the program in the interim.
“She has done some great things up here in the community, was really involved with some of the community components last spring,” said Cowper. “But not only is she invested in our community, she is also pretty knowledgeable about the game of volleyball. We’re excited to see her help this crew move forward.”
Gaylord has six more games left before districts begin in early November. Until then, the program will continue to move forward. Seemingly, now, with a few more smiles on their faces.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord volleyball ‘family’ moving forward with new enthusiasm after tumultuous week
Reporting by Dylan Jespersen, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
